The Health Benefits of Exercise -- A Critical Reappraisal

Abstract

In his 1772 account of angina pectoris, the English physician William Heberden described a patient who “set himself a task of sawing wood for half an hour every day, and was nearly cured”¹. More recently, the question of whether regular physical activity can prevent heart disease and its progression has been controversial. While exercise disciples have preached the health benefits of a physically active lifestyle, skeptics have demanded proof. Two articles in this issue of the Journal, by Paffenbarger et al.² and Sandvik et al.,³ will further fuel the debate. They are representative of the many epidemiologic studies dealing . . .